Fluid motor



March 30,1926.

L. E. KOTHE FLUID MOTOR Filed Feb. 28, 1925 '2 Shets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR 1? K0250 March 30 1926. 1,578,835

L. E. K OTHE FLUID moron,

Filed Feb. 2.8, 1925' 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR LKKaMe ATTORNEY-,4

" specification.

Patented Mar. 30, 1926.

mwsm Lotus nyxo riin, or nnennwoon nnw iFLUID Application filed Februar To all whom it may concern.

Be it known'that I, LOUIS E. Kori-In, a subject of the -King of Great Britain, and resident of Englewood, in, the county of Bergen and State of New Jersey, have in vented certain new and useful Improvements in Fluid Motors, of which thefollowing is a- Thisinvention relates to improvements in fluid motors, particularly to improvements in a reaction rotor which is adapted to serve as the main power converting'element in such motor. I have shown a simplified ge-' neric en'ibodiment of the invention which is readily adaptable for use as a wind mill, or a water wheel orthe rotor of a steam turbine without involving any material changes in its construction and without departing from the reaction principle involved. In accordance with a preferred simple embodis Inent offthe invention, the rotary power transforming element is in the nature of a drum including heads, a connecting hub and a plurality of partitions which extend from the hub to the periphery of the drum and define a series of .fiu'id receiving pockets. The individual] pElIUtlODS serve as sails,

buckets or'Vane's, depending'upon whether the wheel is used as a wind mill, water wheel or turbine rotor and the individual pockets serve to store fluid actuatin means upon the main powerimpulse and to subsequently release such fluid and obtain a secondary power impulse at the time of the release. f

Preferably, the individual partitions are arranged so that a maximum leverage is .ob-

tained regardless of the nature of the fluid which furnishes power. Preferably each partition includes an inner section disposed in a substantially radial position relative to the hub of the drum and extending from the hub to a point closelyadjacent the periphery thereof. Connected to this radial section and preferably integral therewith is a trailing section preferably disposed at aslightly obtuseangle tothe radial section, adjacent pairs of such trailing sections providing tapered guiding chutes or deflectors for the motive medium so that the latteris directed against the outer ends of the radial parti tion sections with considerable forceand at a sufficient distance from the center of the rarenr orr TESL,

MOTORQ,

as, 1925. Serial No. 122074).

drum "-to'obtain a powerful leverage. The trailing partition sections also receive j a directpo-wer impulse from the motive medium, the leverage afforded by the impingement upon such surfaces being longer than the initial impingementupon the radial sections. The pockets tend tostore up energy in the nature of compressed air or steam, or in the case of a water wheel theyserve to trap water and asthe pockets move to the point where their outlet ends are no longer under the direct influence of the motive medium, such fluid, in escaping, impinges upon the; trailing'sections and imparts to them'an additional secondary power; impulse. I'jam' thus able to obtain a maximum amount of power'froni a minimum motive force.

worthy advantage ofembodying no individually movable parts and consequently is a" compact sturdy structure which while light in weight,is unlikely to get out ofaorder orv to be'injured by unusual weather conditions.

In a preferred specific embodiment in which the device is used as a windmill, the effective surfaces'of thepartitions may be supplemented by'theuse of hinged sails or' wings having limited out-ward swinging movement which have the effect ofexte nd ing the partitions, as they'move to leeward and which are feathered by air pressure to; close the pockets as they move to windward. When the'drum is used as awind 'mill, it is" preferably mounted upon the main vertical The rotary element or drum has thehotedurable in use and unlikelyto become dam- I aged dueto extreme weather conditions. 1' 5 The means by which'the. above noted and .various other objects are attained may be more fully.understood 'from the following description in connection '.with the accompanying'drawings, whereini I 'Q Figure 1 is a top plan view of a simplified element is in the nature of a drum includ ingv a pair of heads 10, 11, connected by a central hub 12. Extending from the hub to the periphery of the drum are a number ofpartitions each of which includes a'radial 7 section 13extending from the hub to a point closely adjacent the periphery, and a trailing section 15 forming a continuation of the radial section and trailing at a slightly obtuse-angle thereto. The consecutive partitions cooperate to provide air pockets 16 and the; trailing partition ends provide tapering deflectorstor directing fluid motive medium into. thepockets in such. a manner that it will impinge on. the outer ends of the radial partition sections, thereby obtaining a. maximum leverage on each partition. This direction of motive-medium against the outer ends of the radial partition sections occur-sat the timewhentwoadjaccnt trailingends are in position so that the motive medium enters. directly between them. Further rotation of the drum, however, will move the leading trailing section; into aposition where r the motivemedium may impinge directly thereon, in which instance, an'even longer leverage isv obtained tending to rotationalv movement of the drum.

The motivemediumdsused to store up energy in the ndlv dual. pockets. at the time it enters the same, such energy being subsequently released and. giving ,an: additional powenimpulse. In the-case. of a gaseous fluidv such; as. air or steam, the gas will be compressed inthe pockets and as the mouths of the pockets move out ofthe direct influence of: the motive medium and. pressures.

tion of the rotor in Figure 1, theconstruction and operationof the particular type of windmot-or disclosed in Figures 2 toA will be moreevident. In these figures, themoton includes headslO 113a hub 12 and a series of partitions 15 the-inner ends of which may ,be anchored in peripheral notches 12 in the hub, and the edges of which may be secured to the heads in any approved manner. These partitions are somewhat different from the partitions shown in Figure 1, but the difference is merely relative since the same principles are involved. It will be noted that each partition while it projects from the hub in a substantially radial direction, trails toward its outer end although the sharply defined junction of the radial section and trailing section. of each partition is omitted and the partitions are curved in a trailing direction at a progressively increasing rate toward their outer ends. The drum heads shown are of generally octagonal instead of th'e, cir cular shape of Figure 1, although they might be of any regular polygonal shape desired, depending principally on the number of partitions utilized. I have shown the partitions as entering the drum hub opposite one corner of the head and having their trailing ends joining the pe 'iphery of the drum. adjacent. the following corner. I have also shown the use of a number of wings or sails 17' hingedly connected to the partitionsat their outer ends and having a limited outward, swinging movement. These wings are preferably curved on an arc struck from the center of the hubin order to offer a minimum resistance to the wind as they move to windward. Means for limiting the outward swinging movement of the partitions preferably includes flexible and approximately triangular webs 21 and such websmay be integral with the canvas covering 20 on'the skeleton frames of the wings. This wing construction is conducive to lightness inweight and the canvas which covers the wings may be water prooted and otherwisetreated in the manner of the material commonly used on air plane wings so thatit will: stand up well under the conditions of exposure, to which it will be subjected. It is desirable that there must be no escape of wind'between thewing sections and-the par.- tition ends to which they are hingedly con nected and I consequently provide-some type of hinge structure which will serve to. prevent such escape. For illustrative-purposes only I have shown a leaf hinge, the leaves of which are countersunk in the partitions and the frames 18 of the wings 17. The

heads of the drums are preferably inclined 7 from their center to their periphery inorder to effect drainage of rain water and the normal tendency of the webs as seenbest inv Figure 2 is to sag downwardly nd pre vent the collection of water therein.

7 It will benotedthat the wings are slightly longerthan the distance between the outeredgcs of consecutive partitions so that the tollmving free end of each wing projects slightly from the outer periphery of the drum and from the hinge line of the suc hearing the motor.

ures 1 and 3. These projecting corners offeran inlet to the pockets which facilitates the initial outward swinging movement of the wings as they move into position where the wind can act on the projecting corners.

The drum will always rotate in the same direction regardless of whichway the wind is blowing, the wind swinging open the scoop like deflector wings and operating on both the wings and the partitions as levers at one side of the drum to cause rotational movement thereof. As the wings pass from the leeward side of the drum toward .the windward side, they are folded in or feathered by the pressure of wind thereon.

Inthe operation of the device, it will be noted that the partitions as they move to leeward, offer pocketing surfaces into which the air is deflected by the wings. The impingement of the air upon the partitions gives a considerable power impulse over and above the power obtained from the effective wing surfaces. In other words, both partitions and wings cooperate to act as sails.

In this connection, it may be'noted that the motor with the curved partitions' of Figures 2 to 4, is capable of use without the wings and that in such instance, the partitions moving to windward present convex wind deflecting surfaces so that most of the wind is spilled out of the pockets while partitions'moving to leeward present concave surfaces tending in larger measureto trap and effectively derive power from the wind. The Wind escaping from the pockets on the leeward side of the drum acts to deliver an additional power impulse to the trailing ends of the partitions; I

It will be evident that the device maybe used either as a wind or Water motor and that it may be mounted in either vertical or horizontal position. When used as a water motor. the device is mounted in horizontal position and the wing portions are preferably omitted. v

If the motor be mounted horizontally for use as a wind motor it necessitates the provision of a vane to maintain it broad side to the wind and it also necessitates'the use of a conventional type of transmission gearing, for converting rotary movement. of a horizontal shaft into rotary movement of a vertical shaft. lVith the drum mounted in vertical position and directly keyed to the main power shaft of the mill, I am able to eliminate not only the vanes, and counterba'lances, but also the mechanism commonly employed for operatively connecting such shaft to the horizontal power shaft A reversal of the direction of rotation of the drum may be quickly effected by removing the drum, turning it upside down, and replacing it.

It will thus be seen thatthere is herein described apparatus in which the several features of this invention are embodied,

and which apparatus in its action attains ter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a" limiting sense.

The invention lends itself admirably to embodiment in a toy or windmill.

Having thus described my invention, what pinwheel, Waterwheel I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. A wind motor including a drum formed with a plurality of partitions defining pockets extending from near the center thereof to substantially the periphery thereof and to meet the requirements of could be in I the wings freely hinged at the fouter ends'of the partitions, those of said .wings' moving in direction opposedto the wind being closed by the pressure'of the windfi wind motor'including adruin formed with a plurality of partitions defining pockets extending fromnear the center thereof to substantially the periphery thereof and wings hinged at the outer ends of the partit ons, having l mited outward swinging movement from the outer ends of the pock-Q ets andfree inwardmovement to close auto-,

matically by movement of the wing-fin di rectlon opposedto the wind.

3. Awind motor including a drum formed witha plurality of partitions fixed therein and defining pockets extending from near the center thereof to substantially the periphery thereof and wings hinged at the. outer ends of'the partitions and adapted to" be feathered by wind pressure, and having limited outward Swinging movement from L the outer ends of the pockets, said wings having their upper and lower edges connected by'websto the ends of the drum.

4. A motor of the class described including a drum, a plurality ofpartitions extending from the periphery to substantially the axis of the drum and forming air pockets and wings pivoted to the partitions and defleeting air into the pockets, approximately triangular webs at the ends of the wings limiting outward swinging movement thereof and cooperating therewith to form scooplike baffles for deflecting air into the pockets.

and free to be feathered by wind pressure.

5. A motor of the class described incIuding a drum, a plurality of partitions extending from theperiphery to substantially the axis of the drum and forming air pockets andwings pivoted to thepartitions and deflecting air into the pockets, said partitions being curved from their inner to their outer vedges away, from the direction of rotation and wings hinged to the edges ofthe partitions-andmovable in innermost position to close the-inlets to the pockets, said wings having I limited outward swinging movement. v

7 A motor. of the class described including a drum including upper and lower heads, partitions extending from the axis of the drum to the periphery thereof and forming air pockets and wings hinged to the edges ofthe partitions and. movable across the inletsto the pockets, said partitions having limited/outward swinging moven'ient, themeans for. limiting. the outward swinging movement of the wings including substan tially triangularwebs connecting the upper andilower. edges of the wings witl'iIthe up per andlower heads of the drum.

A motor of the class described including a' drum including upper and lower heads, partitions extending from the axis of thedruni to the periphery thereof and torming airflpockets and wings hinged to the edges of the partitionsand movable across the'inlets to the pockets to close the same,

said. partitions having'limited outward swinging -1nove1nent,- said partitions being curved away from the direction of rotation of the drum whereby air directed into the pockets. by a wing. is trapped by the partitions to which the wing ishinged.

9. -A motor of theclass described including adrum having heads, and curved partitions extending from near the axis to substantially the periphery of the drum, and arcuate wings pivot-edto the partitions and adapted to swing across the mouths of the pocketsdefined thereby to close the same.

10. .A motor of the class described including a drum having heads, and curved partitions extending from near the axis to sub stantially the vperiphery of the drum, and arcuate wings pivoted to the partitions and adapted to. swing, across the mouths of the pockets defined thereby, said wings being curved on an arc struck from the center or the drum.

11. A motor of the class described includ.- ing a drum having heads, and curved partl tions extending from near/the axis to substantially the periphery of the drum, and

arcuate wings pivoted to the partitions and.

adapted to swing acrossrthe months or the pockets defined thereby to substantially close the same, and means for limiting the outward swinging IUOVQHlGIliZOf the wings including webs connecting the upper and low-er. ends of the wings to the heads of the drum.

12. A wind motor including a drum formed with a plurality of partitions defining pockets extending from near the center thereof to substantially the periphery there of and wings hinged at the outer ends of the partitions, said wings comprising skeleton frames supporting taut sheets of flexible material. I v

13. A wind motor comprising a drum having upper and lower heads, a hub, partitions extending from the hub to the periphery of the drum, wings hinged to the partitions and adapted when in closed position tooverlap each other and provide projecting ends offering wind resistance.

14-. A device otthe class described including a drum comprising upper and lower heads, a hub connecting the heads, uniformly spaced partitions extending from the hub to the peripheries of the-head and defining air pockets and wings hinged to the partitions and curved on an arc struck from the center of the drum.

15. A device of the class described including a drum comprising upper and lower heads, a hub connecting the'heads, unitormly spaced partitions extending, from the hub to the periphery voit the head and defining air pockets, wings hinged to the partitions and curved on an arc struck from the center of the drum, each wing being longer than thedistanee between the partitions whereby to provide free following edges overlapping the hinged edge 01": anadjacent wing and oiering a projecting end to expedite the opening of the blade under the influence of the wind.

{Signed at'New York in the county of s ew York and State of New York, this 2'7thday of February, A. 11.1925.

LOUIS E. KOTHE. 

